It was a difficult afternoon for the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
Tom Brady passed for three touchdowns and running back James White had rushing and receiving scores as the New England Patriots handed the Dolphins their first loss of the season, 38-7.
Running back Frank Gore scored the Dolphins' only touchdown with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard reception from quarterback Brock Osweiler, who replaced Ryan Tannehill in the fourth quarter with the outcome already decided.
Along with White, Cordarrelle Patterson and Philip Dorsett caught TD passes and rookie first-round pick Sony Michel had his first NFL rushing touchdown.
For the Dolphins, the highlights were few and far between.
Rookie first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, who made his second NFL start with two-time Pro Bowl selection Reshad Jones again sitting out because of a shoulder injury, had his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
Fellow Dolphins rookie Kalen Ballage appeared in his first NFL game and his first professional carry in the fourth quarter, and it was good for 2 yards.
Cornerback Bobby McCain had a pick on New England's second offensive possession.
McCain, however, missed the second half after sustaining a knee injury.
Center Daniel Kilgore sustained an arm injury in the first half and did not return.
The Dolphins began the game without five injured players, including safety Reshad Jones and wide receiver DeVante Parker. Also on the inactive list were defensive end Andre Branch, linebacker Chase Allen and tight end A.J. Derby.
The Dolphins went into halftime trailing 24-0 after being outgained 272-75 in the first half and failing to convert a third down until the final play of the half.
The game started on a good note for the Dolphins, with Tannehill completing a 22-yard pass to Kenny Stills on the first snap of the game. But it went downhill from there.
New England had a 12-play drive the first time it had the ball, though the Dolphins were able to hold the Patriots to a field goal after they had a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line. The drive appeared to be a three-and-out, but cornerback Xavien Howard was called for defensive holding on a third-down incompletion.
It would be one of several penalties that hurt the Dolphins in the first half.
New England scored its first touchdown early in the second quarter when Brady connected with Patterson on a 55-yard pass play.
The Dolphins were down 10-0 when a shotgun snap from new center Travis Swanson eluded Tannehill and Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy was able to get the loose ball to give New England a first down at the Miami 22-yard line. On the next play, White scored to make it 17-0.
New England made it 24-0 late in the first half on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Dorsett.
After the teams traded three-and-outs to start the second half, the Patriots increased their lead with a 59-yard drive that ended with Brady's 14-yard touchdown pass to White.
Michel, who had his first 100-yard rushing performance, closed out the New England scoring with a 10-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Dolphins (3-1) will return to action next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
